ESTEE BEAUTY Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Multi Defence Aqua UV Ultra Light SPF 30
61/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Multi Defence Aqua UV Ultra Light SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen using older filters: Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Avobenzone, Benzophenone-3 and Octocrylene. The balanced finish is lightweight with a low white cast and works well under makeup, though it tends to sting more around the eyes. Protection is good at SPF 30. The score of 60.9/100 reflects the older filter mix despite the lightweight feel.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
64
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #6, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #7, UV filter
- −8.5 UVB coverage saturated
- −5.5 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #6 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
High
20
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Oxybenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #3
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −36 3 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate)
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
10
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #5, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #6, yellow stains on white cotton
- −15 Octocrylene at #7, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #3
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- → 1 Glycerin at #28, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #22, hyaluronic family
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Saccharide Isomerate)
- → 2 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #3
- → 3 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #3), fast, even canvas
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, …)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +6 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- ✨ Green tea
Full ingredient list (57)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↓ 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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10 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
25 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
28 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
29 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 3 film former
-
32 Sucrose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 3 film former
-
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
48 Cyclodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
50 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
52 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
53 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Aqua UV work under makeup?
Yes, it works well under makeup. The balanced finish is lightweight with a low white cast, though it tends to sting more around the eyes, so keep it clear of the eye area.
Is the ESTEE BEAUTY Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Multi Defence Aqua UV Ultra Light SPF 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. It uses older filters: Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Avobenzone, Benzophenone-3 and Octocrylene.
Is the ESTEE BEAUTY Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Multi Defence Aqua UV Ultra Light SPF 30 any good?
It scores 60.9/100. Protection is good at SPF 30 and the feel is lightweight, but the older filter mix and eye stinging hold the score back.